Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: blam
"Parenting is not a democracy. You need to give your child what they want need - love and attention - but on your terms, not theirs."

"The problem is that a lot of parents simply aren't being parents. In the past 20 years, parents have begun talking to their children more, but they have stopped being in control of them. Children are instinctively artful and will try to put themselves in control. I put the parents back in control."

Other than the one quibble I've put in there, I agree wholeheartedly. My perspective is as a Scouter who's in charge of other people's children in an environment where they have knives, axes, saws, burn fires, boil water, etc. And where they have to do unpleasant jobs like wash dishes and pots, etc. I see so many kids devoid of discipline, who are unfamiliar with the concept of "No, you can't", who are defiant, disobedient, and uncaring of anyone but themselves. They aren't bad kids. They've got inattentive parents who don't understand that you can't be your kids' parent AND their best friend.

8 posted on 07/23/2003 8:59:44 AM PDT by RonF
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: RonF
I think the best parental situations occur when a child has an adult who can be their friend and an adult who can discipline thim, which may be why two parent households work so well as long as both parents aren't hard disciplinarians or soft best friends. A child needs an adult they can trust and talk to and a child needs an adult who can discipline and punish them. It is difficult for one parent to do both jobs.

I do think there are some legitimate cases of ADD but also a lot of cases thar aren't. Diet, discipline, television, and especially sleep can all be a factor in a child's hyperactivity. Sleep is a big issue that most modern parents seem to ignore. Children used to go to bed by 7;00PM, 8:00PM, or 9:00PM, latest but now it isn't uncommon to see them up until 10:00PM, 11:00PM or later with their parents. The first thing that all parents should try is an earlier bed time if their children aren't normally in bed before 9:00PM (or earlier, if they are younger).

31 posted on 07/23/2003 10:35:07 AM PDT by Question_Assumptions
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson